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Yosemite's 'Firefall' Is Even Larger Thanks To Raging Rain

California's natural wonder glows brighter because of recent storms.
Carla Herreria Russo
By 

Senior Editor, HuffPost

Sky_Sajjaphot via Getty Images

Every year in February, Yosemite National Park’s Horsetail Falls in California pours out a fiery blood-orange for two weeks in a natural wonder that has come to be known as the Firefall.

And its glittering effects are even more brilliant this year, thanks to the increased rain and snow in the state.

“The waterfall is bigger than it has been in a long time due to all the rain and snow we have received,” National Park Service spokesman Scott Gediman told CNN.

In fact, Northern California saw this month 228 percent more than its normal rainfall for this time of the year, according to The Washington Post.

Yosemite’s Firefall can only occur only when weather conditions are perfect: The skies have to be clear, there has to be enough rain for the falls to pour over the edge and rays from the setting sun have to hit the water at just the right angle.

The result is a lava-like flow that only lasts for a few minutes.

Below, see photos of this year’s Firefall illuminating Yosemite with its famed golden glow.

The Return of Firefall I had published photographs of this phenomenon last year. This year, I feel fortunate to have been one of the firsts to witness it. In fact, I just drove back home after seeing this unforgettable moment. This is the Horse tail waterfall in the Yosemite National Park. Every year for a few days in February, the sun sets at a certain angle and illuminates the waterfall in luminescent orange and red, making it look like a molten lava. More information on this phenomenon is here, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160219-yosemite-firefall-waterfall-sunset-pictures-nature/. #westcoast_exposures #majestic_earth_ #cool_capture_ #photoarena_nature #naturewhisperers #inspiring_photography_admired #dream_image #visitcalifornia #jaw_dropping_shots #gottolove_this #splendid_earth #thebest_capture #b_picturess #igs_america #ig_unitedstates #phototag_it #wildcalifornia_ #NikonLove #globalcapture #ig_exquisite #ig_impulse #viewbugfeature #usinterior #moodygrams #rawcalifornia #firefall #firefall2017

A post shared by Sangeeta Dey (@sangeetadeyphotography) on

The phenomenon known as "Fire fall". Here is some history from @yosemite_national_park. The waterfall itself is called Horsetail waterfall located on the east side of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. If the waterfall is flowing during mid February and the conditions are just right you'll get the sun ☀️ hitting the rock at just the right angle producing the "Fire 🔥" effect. The name "Fire fall" actually came from a tradition in 1872 where a bonfire was built every evening at Glacier Point. People from all around the valley would gather down below in Curry village to watch the bonfire be pushed over the edge creating the Fire fall. Sounds safe 🙈 You can see behind the scenes on my instagram story 😉 - - - - -----------------------------------------------------⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @canonusa 📷 Shot Info 📷 Canon 5d Mark IV Lens: 24-70mm Manual Mode Shutter . . . . 1/8 sec Aperture: F10 ISO: 100 WB auto RAW ---------------------------------------------------- ⠀ #yosemite #yosemite_national_park #rawcalifornia #wildcalifornia #teamcanon #canon_photos #feedbacknation #watchthisinstagood #optoutside #global_hotshotz #liveoutdoors #estheticlabel #nature #landscape #photographer #exklusive_shot #ig_sharepoint #way2ill #dream_image #theimaged #main_vision #conquer_ca #westcoast_exposures #canonbringit #moodygrams #agameoftones #heatercentral #folkvibe #abc30insider #ig_color

A post shared by R A N D Y H A R O N (@2ndfloorguy) on

Went on a date with nature last night!

A post shared by Timmy C. (@timmytchang) on

You can't have enough #Firefall photos 👍📷@dtm_photo ・・・ #yosemitenationalpark #yosemite #firefall

A post shared by NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) on

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